Netflix changes ratings system to simple thumbs-up, thumbs-down model

Netflix is ditching its 5-star rating system for a simpler thumbs-up, thumbs-down model, Variety reported Friday.

The streaming service announced the move Thursday at a press briefing, where Netflix Vice President of Product Todd Yellin told reporters that focus group testing found that the simpler ratings system yielded 200 percent more responses than the original rating scale.

Looking at the data, Netflix analysts found that there was little correlation with how well viewers rated the service’s offerings and what they actually ended up watching. “We made ratings less important because the implicit signal of your behavior is more important,” Mr. Yellin said, according to Variety.

The announced change seems to come fortuitously for at least one liberal-leaning comedian who is complaining that the ratings system has been gamed against her because of her politics.

Fox News reported Friday that Amy Schumer took to her Instagram account to complain that “alt-right” trolls were giving her new comedy special poor ratings.

“The alt right organized trolls attack everything I do. … They organize to get my ratings down,” wrote Ms. Schumer Thursday, adding that she “want[s] to thank them.”

“It makes me feel so powerful and dangerous and brave,” the outspoken critic of President Trump explained. “It reminds me what I’m saying is effective and brings more interest to my work and their obsession with me keeps me going.”